Re: [Flightgear-users] FlightGear-WindowsXP and OpenGL

[Curtis L. O. <cur...@fl...>]

Comments:

Yes, it's possible to buy hardware that has crappy opengl support. This 
is true for any operating system. Many of the fringe players in the 
video card market don't even have features on their card that could 
support opengl well. Microsoft doesn't directly support opengl on all 
hardware, and that also makes sense. OpenGL is in large part a driver 
interface to the video hardware and MS can't be expected to write 
drivers for everyone's hardware.

So the moral of the story: If you think you might want to run an OpenGL 
based program, carefully consider your video hardware when you purchase 
your computer. Nvidia and ATI typically provide excellent opengl support 
for windows. nvidia provides excellent opengl support of linux/freebsd.

It pays to shop, know what hardware you are getting, and don't just 
purchase something blindly. This is especially important if you are 
purchasing a laptop, because you can't just drop in a new video card 
later if you find out the built in video hardware has crappy opengl support.

There are too many important programs that use OpenGL for MS to even 
consider tricky ways of killing OpenGL on their OS's.

Curt.


bertrand bogaert wrote:

> As it appears, Flight Gear may be difficult to run on Windows XP, see 
> article below.
> Any comments please??
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;285912
>
>
>   Programs that Require OpenGL Support May Not Run in Windows XP
>
> View products that this article applies to. 
> <http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;285912#appliesto>
> Article ID 	: 	285912
> Last Review 	: 	April 20, 2004
> Revision 	: 	1.0
>
> This article was previously published under Q285912
>
>
>     SYMPTOMS
>
> When you try to use programs (such as DVD players or games) that 
> require support for the OpenGL standard for three-dimensional graphics 
> display on your Windows XP-based computer, you may experience some or 
> all of the following symptoms:
> • 	The software or game does not run.
> • 	The display appears jagged.
> • 	Pure color is missing.
> • 	Different shades of color are not displayed to give the 
> three-dimensional look.
> • 	Some or all colors are displayed incorrectly.
>
>
>     CAUSE
>
> This behavior can occur if your video adapter driver does not support 
> the OpenGL standard.
>
>
>     RESOLUTION
>
> To resolve this issue, contact your video adapter manufacturer for 
> information about how to obtain and install a Windows XP video adapter 
> driver that supports the OpenGL standard. Note that you may be able to 
> use a Microsoft Windows 2000 video adapter driver on your Windows 
> XP-based computer.
>
>
>     STATUS
>
> This behavior is by design.
>
>
>     MORE INFORMATION
>
> For more information about OpenGL, please visit the following OpenGL 
> Web site:
> http://www.opengl.org <http://www.opengl.org/> (http://www.opengl.org)
> Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find 
> technical support. This contact information may change without notice. 
> Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact 
> information.
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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-- 
Curtis Olson        http://www.flightgear.org/~curt
HumanFIRST Program  http://www.humanfirst.umn.edu/
FlightGear Project  http://www.flightgear.org
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